KVH travelled to Wanganui in September, visiting nine orchards over two days. A meeting was held to discuss Wanganui spray programmes compared to other regions and best practice Psa management over spring.

Most growers achieved good dry matter last season, enabling them to harvest crops in April - at least a month earlier than previous years. Actigard and copper had been applied post-harvest while leaves were still in good condition, which set the orchards up well going into winter. Overall the region experienced a milder winter with lower rainfall.

Compared with last year, fewer Psa symptoms were seen, with one notable exception in Mangamahu Valley, where colder, wetter portions of an orchard were showing significant exudate. Growers have been proactive with monitoring and removal of infected material. Early indications are that bud break was looking good and growers were quietly confident of a good start to the season.

Company Notices

6 October 2016

Phd student at KVH

6 October 2016

KVH welcomed Stuart Woodcock to the team in August. Stuart is a PhD student from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. He is working with KVH and Zespri on a three month...

KVH welcomed Stuart Woodcock to the team in August. Stuart is a PhD student from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. He is working with KVH and Zespri on a three month secondment.

His work investigates how bacteria are able to cause disease in humans and plants and he has previously worked with bacteria similar to Psa. Stuart is using his time in New Zealand to review the recent research on Psa and gain insight into how the kiwifruit industry works. By the end of his secondment, he hopes to have identified any gaps in past research and will provide recommendations on future direction.

Biosecurity News

6 October 2016

Palm kernel ship no specific risk to kiwifruit

6 October 2016

The ship carrying palm kernel extract, anchored off the coast of Tauranga since 6 September after being prevented by MPI from unloading in Tauranga due to part of the consignment originating from an...

The ship carrying palm kernel extract, anchored off the coast of Tauranga since 6 September after being prevented by MPI from unloading in Tauranga due to part of the consignment originating from an un-approved Malaysian plant, poses no specific risk to kiwifruit.

KVH has previously investigated the risks of palm kernel imports to the kiwifruit industry and concluded that there are no direct threats involved with this trade. KVH fully supports MPI taking strong action such as this when they identify non-compliance at the border.

Grower News

6 October 2016

Gisborne grower meeting

6 October 2016

KVH will be holding a grower meeting tomorrow, Friday 7 October at 12.30pm, Greens Orchard - 799 Matawai Road to discuss the Gisborne regional Psa classification. This meeting will follow the OPC FON...

KVH will be holding a grower meeting tomorrow, Friday 7 October at 12.30pm, Greens Orchard - 799 Matawai Road to discuss the Gisborne regional Psa classification. This meeting will follow the OPC FON Field Day.

Grower News

6 October 2016

Spring weather brings difficult conditions

6 October 2016

With the difficult spring weather conditions occurring in most regions, it is important growers take every opportunity to use a range of products within their spray programmes to minimise the risk of...

With the difficult spring weather conditions occurring in most regions, it is important growers take every opportunity to use a range of products within their spray programmes to minimise the risk of Psa infection and spread.

For those in high Psa risk situations, current weather patterns are likely to warrant application of a bactericide. These are best applied before infection is seen and timed prior to infection events such as extended wet weather, stormy periods, hail or frost. Applications within 48 hours after these events also provides control. Timing for Kasumin is when leaves reach 25mm in diameter, with use allowed used until 21 days prior to flowering. KeyStrepto, with JA, can be used up to seven days before the first flower opens.

Products such as Actigard and Ambitious should also be included for additional protection against leaf spot and flower bud infection. Most effective when applied before leafspot symptoms appear, optimal timings will vary with orchard location and variety.

First applications of Actigard can be made when leaves reach approximately 25mm in diameter. Delay applications if vines are under stress.

CPPU products, available for Green varieties only, need 5-7 days to raise a response and should be applied when there is sufficient leaf for absorption. As a guide, shoots should be around 100mm long.

Coppers at full summer rates remain the backbone of the spray programme and need to be reapplied to match the rate of shoot extension.

Pre-flower girdles for Green blocks at high risk of flower bud infection should also be planned. These need to be applied in dry conditions, around 30 days before flowering.

Use the Psa-V Risk model to assess upcoming risk for timing of spray applications.

Grower News

6 October 2016

Monitoring tips

6 October 2016

At this time of year, it is relatively simple to identify plants with possible Psa symptoms. It may be a little early for leaf spotting to be visible, although we have had a report this week of leaf...

At this time of year, it is relatively simple to identify plants with possible Psa symptoms. It may be a little early for leaf spotting to be visible, although we have had a report this week of leaf spotting on a very early hi-caned Hayward orchard. Some growers on Psa-V positive G3 orchards are currently seeing exudate in buds and joints on their vines.

Generally, look out for canes with wilted/missing buds and then examine these closer to see the reason why this may have occurred. Some canes may just have delayed bud break, but on those with Psa, the buds will be mushy or may even be oozing. Red exudate may also be evident at cane joints or along the leader on older Hayward male varieties.

On 1 October 2016, the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) became mandatory. It is important all nurseries producing kiwifruit plants, or which may do so in the future, fully understand the implications of this change

Only KPCS certified kiwifruit plants are able to be legally bought or sold in New Zealand, and all nurseries producing kiwifruit plants must be approved under the KPCS by Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH). These requirements are mandatory under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and failure to comply may result in a prosecution with significant penalties (for an individual, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or a fine not exceeding $50,000 or both; for a corporation, a fine not exceeding $100,000).

KVH introduced the KPCS to reduce the risk of pests and pathogens being spread through the movement of kiwifruit nursery plants. This includes the spread of known pests and pathogens such as Cherry leaf roll virus and Psa, but also other threats that may be present in New Zealand but not yet detected, such as Ceratocystis fimbriata. Without internal biosecurity controls, a new pest or pathogen is likely to be widespread by the time it is detected, compromising any chance of eradication, and production impacts of established pests will grow.

The KPCS was launched in May 2014, allowing a two and a half year ‘transition period’ for nurseries to meet the new requirements or transition out of kiwifruit plant production. This ‘phase-in’ approach recognised the long and close association between existing nurseries and the kiwifruit industry and that better biosecurity is more likely to be achieved through industries working in partnership.

As well as requiring nurseries to demonstrate they meet a HACCP based standard (including independent audit, monitoring and testing requirements), the scheme has provided nurseries with assistance, including access to best practice information and free specialist expert advice.

NZPPI (previously NGINZ) contributed to development of the KPCS, along with individual kiwifruit plant producers, to ensure it provides effective biosecurity protection and is practical and workable for nurseries. Thirteen nurseries have already achieved certification, with overwhelmingly positive feedback including “this is just good sensible practice we should have in all of our nurseries.”

The KVH Board has appointed grower-elected Director, Adrian Gault as the new Chairman, and Independent Director, Graeme Marshall, as Vice Chairman.

With more than 30 years of growing and primary industry experience, Adrian has extensive and strong governance experience through his past and present roles on a number of primary industry organisations.

A Gold3 kiwifruit grower based in Opotiki, Adrian was the regional representative for Kiwifruit Vine Health from its early days responding to the Psa crisis until 2012 and was an Opotiki District Councillor from 2001–2007.

Graeme Marshall has had a significant career in the freight, logistics and transport industry including 16 years at the Port of Tauranga as the Commercial Manager.

Graeme is currently a director of Port Taranaki, is the Chairman of the Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee (BMAC), is contracted to provide business development support for Northport Ltd and is on the governance board of Bay of Connections, the economic development strategy for the wider Bay of Plenty.

Biosecurity News

22 September 2016

Biosecurity 2025 - industry submission lodged

22 September 2016

KVH has lodged a submission on MPI’s proposed Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement, on behalf of both kiwifruit and kiwiberry industries. The submission is supported by Zespri, New Zealand...

KVH has lodged a submission on MPI’s proposed Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement, on behalf of both kiwifruit and kiwiberry industries. The submission is supported by Zespri, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated and New Zealand KiwiBerry Growers Incorporated – click here to read it.

Sincere thanks to those who contributed their views at a Biosecurity 2025 workshop convened by MPI and KVH specifically for our industries, which enabled senior MPI officials to hear from our growers directly and helped to shape our submission.

Biosecurity 2025 will set strategic direction for NZ’s future biosecurity system which include the following themes:

Growers are invited to a meeting with KVH to discuss spring spray programmes and receive a crop protection update. NZKGI Executive Representative, Mike Smith, will also be present to give an update on the Green Taste Review.